Longest Serving GOP Elected Official in Florida Switching to Democrat Party

South Florida Sun-Sentinel ^ | 9/2/03 | Buddy Nevins

[sofloridian]

Top Republican Official to Switch Parties

Broward County Property Appraiser William "Bill" Markham, who was elected in 1968 at the high-water mark of Republican power in Broward and today is the lone GOP countywide officeholder, intends to become a Democrat this week, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has learned.

Markham's conversion is a major coup for the Democratic Party, which has had little good news since 2000 when the presidential recount in Florida gave the election to George W. Bush. Although the state Republican Party does not keep statistics, a GOP spokesman in Tallahassee said Markham may be the longest-serving Republican in Florida. He has held the same office for more than 34 years.

"He'll be a wonderful addition to our party," said Mitch Ceasar, the Broward County Democratic leader ...

[Dog Gone]

The fact that this is considered a major coup demonstrates how little good news Democrats have to celebrate.

[xzins]

We're talking about a county appraiser!?!

For Pete's sake, why stop there!...fill us in on the dog-catcher races, too.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Good riddance to bad rubbish. He just raised the IQ of both parties by 15 points.

[Sloth]

More than 500 elected Democrats have switched parties in recent years.

Do you know where I could document that number?

[kitkat]

***Markham has insisted the two party leaders actively discourage anyone from challenging him in next year's Democratic primary.***

That's the quote I like best. They ADMIT that the people in Broward County won't have any choice.

[Consort]

Switch list from 2001 There have been many more since this list was made.

[Sloth]

Thanks!

[I still care]

After election 2002 in OUR Florida county we had several people switch to Republican. One said it was Nancy Pelosi's election that convinced him that the Democrat party wasn't his Dad's Democrat party anymore.

[mikeb704]

Wasn't Howard Sprague on Mayberry RFD the tax appraisor?

I believe he was the city or county clerk on that program and, of course, on the Andy Griffith Show.

[montag813]

THIS IS DEVASTATING! BUSH MUST BE TERRIFIED BY THIS BIG NEWS! ROVE HAS CALLED A SENIOR MEETING TO DISCUSS A RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS!

FIRST THE BROWARD COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER, TOMORROW THE WORLD...THE DEMOCRATS ARE TAKING OVER!!! AAAAAAAA!!!!

[/sarcasm]

[freekitty]

Maybe the Republican Party will finally get smart and kick him entirely out of office.

[VRWC_minion]

Said Scott: "Bill always will remain a Republican at heart."

[bushfamfan]

He's gone to the dark side.

[Yardstick]

This isn't too surprising. In the South, it used to be that if you were a liberal, you were a Republican. This guy's probably a liberal and is finally making the switch -- kind of like southern conservatives switching from Democrat to Republican, but in the opposite direction.

My grandparents, who are liberal, were big-time Republican activists in the 1950's and 60's down in Baton Rouge. They're still Republicans, but only nominally -- they criticise Bush like Democrats. It's probably time for them to switch over, too.

[kayak]

Ah! So you noticed that little snippet, also. No media bias here at all.

[concerned about politics]

County Property Appraiser

Oh no! Please tell me the dog catcher isn't going with him! Noooooooo.

[smith288]

So what impact could this guy actually have relative to public policy? Does it even matter what party he is in to appraise crap?

"Yea, that plot of land is worth $300,000 and a few abortions..."

[donozark]

RISING TIDE Magazine (From RNC) gace the figure of "479 elected Democrat Officals having switched to the Republican Party during the Clinton/Gore years.

Since GWB elected, 25 Democrats (elected officials) have sitched to the Republican Party. As of Feb. 10, 2002. Don't have anything newer...Perhaps I'll email RNC.org later and see if they have an update.

[Sofa King]

>when the presidential recount in Florida gave the election to George W. Bush.

How about when the VOTERS in Florida gave the election to GWB?

Especially considering that there has yet to be a count that says otherwise...

[Scott from the Left Coast]

He wants to pad the retirement stipend a bit more with one more election. Happens a lot with small-time career pols.